Dispenser for sheet material



June'5, 1962 J. c. THOMASMA ETAL 3,037,717

DISPENSER EOE SHEET MATERIAL Filed Deo. 29, 1958 June 5, 1962 J. c. THoMAsMA ETAL 3,037,717

DISPENSER EoR SHEET MATERIAE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 195e- June 5,1962 J. c. THoMAsMA ETAL 3,037,717

DISPENSER RoR SHEET MATERIAL 5 SheetsfSheet 3 Fild Dec. 29, 1958 INVENTbR. c/oH/vC. W40/SMA @WELLS WMM/@94A 3,937,717 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,717 DISPENSER FR SHEET MATERIAL John C. Thomasrna, Kaiamazoo, and Charles W. Thomasma, Sturgis, Mich., assignors to Sanitair Mfg. Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 783,401 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-5523) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing sheet material, particularly to a method and' apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a source of supply until the source is exhausted and for then automatically and without interruption dispensing from a second source of supply.

Many kinds of sheet material are stored and transported as rolls of continuous sheet material from which sections of the sheet are unrolled intermittently for use. Examples of such operations are the dispensing of paper towels in public washrooms and of paper towels, aluminum foil, waxed paper and resinous foils in the home. Such sheet materials are ordinarily used by withdrawing or unrolling a section of the sheet of suitable length and then severing it from the main body of the sheet, e.g. by cutting or tearing. In many instances the supply roll of sheet material is contained in a suitable dispenser having a severing means associated with it so that the dispensing and severing operations are facilitated and theV entire apparatus presents a neat appearance and is convenient to operate.

As heretofore practiced, the above procedures involving dispensing apparatus have invariably provided for the installation of a single supply roll of the sheet material in the apparatus with the result that when the roll is exhausted a new roll must be installed before additional sections of the sheet material can be dispensed and' used. It Very often happens that a new roll must be installed at a time when it is inconvenient to do so. Thus, a storekeeper is inconvenienced greatly, and his customer is likewise inconvenienced, when it becomes necessary during the wrapping of the merchandise purchased by the customer to take the time to install a new roll of wrapping paper in the apparatus used for dispensing the paper. The situation is aggravated a great deal in instances where the dispensing apparatus is not attended constantly but is inspected only at intervals by an individual charged' with keeping a supply of sheet material in the apparatus. In a public wash room, for example, it is the custom for the paper towel dispensers to be inspected only infrequently, eg. once daily. In instances where rolls of paper toweling are employed, it is impossible to be sure that no individual desiring to use a paper towel finds the dispenser empty. The only way this could be prevented would be for the attendant to make an inspection every few minutes when a roll is nearly exhausted or to remove a roll which is not completely used up but which is likely to become exhausted before his next inspection. Either procedure is undesirable and uneconomic and in practice the ditiiculty is often overcome by installing a plurality of dispensers, each dispensing from a single roll, and then trusting that when one roll becomes exhausted there will be a suiiicient supply on another roll in another dispenser to last until the next inspection. This procedure obviously involves undesirable expense in the duplication of dispensers.

J According to the method of the present invention `a plurality of supply rolls, usually two, of the sheet material to be dispensed are located suitably to provide for the travel of sheet material from the two rolls as an assemblage of the two sheets in superposed relationship slidably over the surface of a rigid plate. The sheet farthest removed from the plate is engaged frictionally by suitable engaging land forwarding means which presses the assemblage of sheets against the rigid plate and forwards the engaged sheet in its travel in desired manner, the tension required to unroll the other sheet material from its supply roll being adjusted to cause it to remain stationary in contact with the plate while the engaged sheet slides over its surface. When, however, the supply roll of the sheet material 'being engaged and forwarded becomes exhausted, the engaging and forwarding means then engages and forwards the other sheet material automatically and without interruption of the dispensing operation, the tension required to unroll the other sheet material from its supply roll being insuiiiciently great to prevent its being forwarded by the engaging and forwarding means when the means engages it directly. In this way, after the first roll of sheet material is exhausted, it is assured that there is still a supply of one full roll and there is thus ample time for installing a new supply roll before the second roll is exhausted. The likelihood of the entire supply of sheet material becoming exhausted is avoided without the necessity of giving more than the normal amount of attention to the amount of sheet material used or of discarding unused portions of supply rolls to insure .a continuous supply. The necessity and cost of providing a plurality of dispensing mechanisms is also avoided.

The invention can be understood readily from the accompanying drawing wherein, in the interest of clarity, certain features are shown on a somewhat exaggerated scale and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is kan oblique external View of apparatus, including `a cabinet, for dispensing paper towels from supply rolls thereof which embodies features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the apparatus of FIGURE l and with a side panel of the cabinet removed showing some of the members located inside the cabinet;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation, partially in section and partially broken away, taken along the line III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation, partially in section, taken along the lines IV-IV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevation taken along the line V-V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is Ia sectional elevation corresponding to FIGURE 5 but showing the locations of certain of the parts during one stage in the operation of the apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1 showing the cabinet opened to illustrate the m-anner of installing supply rolls of sheet material in it; `and FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation corresponding, generally, to FIGURE 5, but showing alternate means for effecting certain steps in the operation of the process.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated, genera-ily, at I9 a cabinet of convenient configuration, size and design comprising a front panel 11, side panels 12, a top panel 14 and rear and bottom panels, 25 and 1-3, respectively, not shown in FIGURE l but which are illustrated in FIGURE 2. In the modification illustrated, the top panel I4 is hinged `along its rear edge with hinges I15 to provide access to the interior of the cabinet, as will be apparent later on. The top panel 14 is also provided with a turned-down flange 19 at each of its sides which, with the cabinet closed, lies along the outside of the upper ends of the side panels 12, and with a turned-down flange 22 along its front edge which, with the cabinet closed, extends along -the outside of the top end of the front panel Il. The front panel 11 is provided along each of its sides with a turned-down flange 17 which, with the cabinet closed, extends along the outside of the front edge of the side panel 12. The lianges 17 are conveniently formed so that they do not extend entirely to the upper end of the front panel and thus do not conict with the anges 19 of the top panel when the cabinet is closed.

The flanges -17 at the sides of the front panel 11 are secured pivotally near their lower ends to the side panels 12 in convenient fashion, e.g. by pivot pins 16 extending through the flanges 17 and the side panels 12 in such manner that the front panel can be pivoted about the pins, `as illustrated more particularly in FIGURE 7, thus furnishing additional access to the interior of the cabinet. It is noted that when the cabinet is entirely closed the fiange 22 along the front of the top panel 14 engages the upper end of the front panel 11 and holds it securely in its closed position.

The bottom panel 113 is secured permanently to the side and rear panels of the cabinet and is provided with turned-up flanges 18 along its side `and rear edges which lie in surface contact with the lower ends of the side and rear panels of the cabinet. The bottom panel 13 and its side flanges 18 extend forwardly of the cabinet for a distance somewhat less than the width of the side panels 12. There is thus an open space of convenient width along the forward edge of the bottom of the cabinet. This open space and the adjacent region is herein, for the sake of convenience, referred to as a dispensing zone.

There is also illustrated in FIGURE l a dispensing lever 23 which protrudes through a vertical slot 24 formed in the front panel 11, the function `and mode of operation of which will be described later. The cabinet of FIGURE l can be mounted in an upright position in -any convenient manner and in any convenient location, eg. `with its back panel against a wall or standing on a table or shelf so that it protrudes forwardly by a suitable distance past the edge of the table or shelf for reasons which will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In FIGURE 2 there is illustrated `a cabinet similar to that of FIGURE l, but enlarged and with one side panel and flanges 17, 18 and 19 on the same side removed showing the interior of the cabinet and certain of the several elements located therein. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, and also in FIGURE 3, there are mounted in the cabinet a first supply roll 32, and a second supply roll 33, of paper toweling or of other sheet material which it is desired to dispense from the cabinet. The first roll 32 of sheet material is mounted in the upper part of the cabinet and the second roll 33 is mounted in the lower part of the cabinet. The rst and second rolls of sheet material, 32 and 33, can 'be mounted in the cabinet in any suitable fashion to provide for unrolling and `dispensing sheet material from them in the way hereinafter described. Thus, in the modification illustrated wherein the first and second rolls 32 and 33 are rolls of paper toweling with a cylindrical cardboard core 37, a suitable upper, or iirst, bracket 34 is secured, as by rivets 35, to the top panel 14 of the cabinet, the bracket having dependent arms which extend downwardly past the center of the first roll 32.

A cylindrical shaft 36, with axial pins 38 in each of its ends, is provided which tits snugly inside the cylindrical core 37 and upon which the roll 32 can be mounted. The arms of the first bracket 34 are each provided with a suitably contoured slot 39 for receiving the axial pins and for retaining the shaft and -iirst supply roll while allowing them to rotate. For purposes which will be described later, each slot 39 is suitably formed with a relatively horizontal section open at the front edge of the bracket arm along which the pins 38 can be passed readily to locate the supply roll 32 between the arms of the bracket 34. Each slot 39 is formed with a downwardly extending section at its inner or closed end in which the axial pin 38 rests during normal operation of the apparatus. It will be observed that to remove the shaft 36 from the bracket 34 it is only necessary to slide the pins 38 through the slot 39 until they disengage the bracket 34 and that a new roll can be mounted on the shaft and then installed in the apparatus by reversing this procedure. The particular way in which this can be accomplished conveniently will be described later. It is noted in FIGURE 3 that the dependent arms of the bracket 34 are inclined toward one another to a slight extent. When formed in this manner 'se arms of the bracket press lightly against the Sides of the roll 32 and thus prevent undesired Spin on the roll and the consequent unwinding of an excess of the sheet material inside the cabinet following a relatively rapid withdrawal of a section of the iirst sheet material from the cabinet in the way which will `be described later.

In the modification illustrated, a second supply roll of sheet material 33 is mounted betwen the horizontally extending arms 42 of a second bracket which is mounted, e.g. by rivets 43 through its base 44, on the back of a pressure plate 45 mounted in an essentially vertical position forwardly of the second roll 33, as will be explained presently. A pair of pins 46 are mounted rotatably in suitable holes in line with one vanother in the bracket arms 42 and a plug 47, suitably of wood, iS secured to the inner end of each pin, the plugs being adapted to iit snugly into the ends of the tubular core 37 of the second roll of sheet material 33. The pins 46 and the attached plugs 47 are thus retained in association with the bracket arms 42 during the removal of a supply roll of sheet material from, and during the installation of a new roll in, the bracket by spreading the bracket arms 4Z apart, as will be explained later.

There is also provided in association with the second roll of sheet material 33 a suitable tensioning device which functions to increase the tension required to unroll sheet material from the second supply roll 33 to a degree greater than that required to unroll sheet material from the first supply roll 32. In the modification i1lustrated the tensioning device comprises a leaf spring member 48, of FiGURE 3, secured in fixed position to the inside surface of one of the side panels 12 of the cabinet, as by a rivet 49, the member 48 being contoured so that it presses against the side of the second roll of sheet material 33 with a force requiring the exertion of the desired degree of tension on the sheet material before it can be unrolled from the second roll 33. It is obvious that the degree of tension can be regulated by adjusting the amount of pressure exerted on the side of the roll by the spring member 48, e.g. by bending it in a suitable manner.

The pressure plate 45 referred to previously is essentially a fiat, rigid plate which is located suitably adjacent to and parallel with the lower part of the front panel 11 in a manner such that an unwound first section of sheet material 52 from the first roll 32 and an unwound section of second sheet material 53 from the second roll 33 will, when passed over the pressure plate, lie in essentially flat superposed relationship thereon, the section of second sheet material 53 being between the pressure plate 45 and the section of iirst sheet material 52. Ordinarily the parts are arranged so that the plane of the forward surface of the pressure plate 45 is parallel with a vertical plane, or planes, which include the longitudinal axes of the rolls 32 and 33.

The pressure plate 45 is conveniently formed as the base of a channel-shaped element at least as wide as the sections of sheet material and of any suitable length and located with the arms of the channel, 51 and 54 of FIG- URE 2, extending forwardly from the base of the channel essentially in surface-contacting relationship with the inner surfaces of the side panels 12 of the cabinet. The arms of the channel are each secured rotatively, as by a pin 55 adjacent their lower ends, to the respective side panels of the cabinet. With the cabinet open as will be described later, the pressure plate 45 and the second bracket, the base 44 of which is secured to the pressure plate as described previously, can be tipped forwardly by rotating them about the pins 55. A suitable stop, conveniently a pair of short pins 58 secured to, and projecting inwardly of, the side panels 12, is generally provided to prevent undue rotation of the pressure plate assembly inwardly of the cabinet, it being preferable that the plate extend as nearly vertically as conveniently possible. The combined weight of the second bracket and of the second supply roll 33 of sheet material maintains the pressure plate 45 in a fixed position in pressure contact with the stops 58 during the operation of the apparatus.

As will be noticed from FIGURE 2, a first section of unwound sheet material 52 from the first supply roll 32 can be drawn past the forward surface of the pressure plate 45 without any sharp change in the direction of its travel which might cause it to break or tear. However, because of the relative locations of the parts, it is advisahle to prolong the upper end of the pressure plate into a rearwardly curved upper, or first, guide plate 56 which serves to guide the second section of sheet material 53 from the second supply roll 33 in a smoothly curved path from the roll 33 to its position in contact with the forward surface of the pressure plate 45. The guide plate 56 can be of any suitable configuration so long as it serves to prevent snagging and tearing or breakage of the second section of sheet material 52 during the course of its travel. It is also `apparent in the modification illustrated that as the first roll of sheet material 32 becomes almost exhausted, the guide plate 55 may be of some `assistance in guiding the first section of sheet material in its travel from the first roll 32 to the zone, herein referred to as a pressure zone, in the vicinity of the pressure plate 45.

It is also convenient and desirable, but not always essential, to prolong the pressure plate 45 downwardly in forwardly curving relationship to `form a lower, or second, guide plate 57, the lower edge of which is closely adjacent the lower edge of the front panel ll of the cabinet so that sheet material delivered from the cabinet, as hereinafter described, will protrude from the cabinet closely adjacent the lower end of the front panel 11 in a position such that it can be severed Iby lifting it up and tearing it along the edge tof the lower end of the panel l1.

Utilizing the apparatus thus far described and with first and second rolls of sheet material, 32 and 33, installed in the cabinet with unwound first and second sections of sheet material, `52 and 53, lying in superposed relationship in the pressure Zone closely adjacent the forward surface of the pressure plate 45, lthe method contemplated by the invention for dispensing sheet material will now Ibe described. The dispensing operation is initiated by engaging the surface of the first section of sheet material 52 opposite the pressure plate 45 frictionally with a suitable sheet-engaging means, such as those to be described later, and pressing the superposed sections of sheet material into contact with the pressure plate 45. By proper manipulation of the engaging means, eg. by causing it to move downwardly in the pressure zone or by causing it to rotate in suitable fashion, the first section of sheet material 52 is caused to move downwardly through the pressure zone and along the surface of the second guide plate 57 for a distance sufficient to cause it to protrude below the lower edge of the front panel 1l of the cabinet for a distance such that it can be grasped readily by the hand. A desired length of the sheet material can then be withdrawn from the cabinet after which the withdrawn length can be severed by lifting it and tearing it along the lower edge of the front panel 1l. Because of the greater tension required to unwind the second section of sheet material 53 from. the second supply roll 33, the first section of sheet material 52 slides over the surface of the second section of sheet material 53 as it is forwarded through the pressure zone by the action just described, the second section of sheet material 53 remaining stationary in the pressure zone.

When, however, all of the sheet material from the first supply roll 32 has been dispensed, continuation of the action just described causes the sheet-engaging means to engage the second section of sheet material 53` in the pressure zone and to forward it through the zone in precisely the same manner 'as that described for the forwarding of the first section of sheet material. Thus, the dispensing of sheet material from the first roll 32 can be continued until the roll 32 is completely exhausted and dispensing of sheet material from the roll 33 will then begin automatically upon continued operation of the apparatus. There is thus no possibility of a user of the sheet material finding the apparatus empty and being unable .to secure sheet material unless the inspection of the apparatus is neglected to such an extent that both of the supply rolls 32 and 33 are completely used.

It is thus seen that, when an individual who is charged with the responsibility of seeing that the supply of sheet material in the cabinet does not become completely exhausted inspects the cabinet and finds that the first roll 32 is not completely exhausted, he need do nothing further at the time since he can rest assured that there is more than one complete roll of sheet material left in the cabinet. When, however, he finds that the first roll of sheet material has become exhausted and that sheet Inaterial from the second roll is being dispensed, he can then install an additional roll of sheet material in the cabinet. This is preferably accomplished, in the way which will be explained later, by moving the partially used second roll 33 to the position previously occupied by the first roll 32 and installing the new roll as a new second roll. Suflicient of the sheet material is unrolled from each of the rolls to provide first and second sections of sheet material extending into the pressure zone adjacent the pressure plate 45 so that the sheet-engaging means will engage the first section of sheet material 53 in the manner described previously. It is, of course, apparent that, when the first roll 32 is exhausted and a part of the second roll 33 has been used, the new roll can be installed as the first roll and dispensing of the sheet material continued as before, if desired. However, if this practice is persisted in it is evident that eventually only a small amount of sheet material will remain on the second roll 33 at the time the first roll 32 is exhausted and that the second roll 33 may become exhausted very soon after the exhaustion of the first roll 32. In such an instance it is apparent that there will be considerable likelihood of a user of the sheet material finding both rolls exhausted. For this reason it is preferable to always move the partially exhausted second roll 33 into the position formerly occupied by the first roll 32 and to install the new roll as a new second roll 33.

Although any suitable sheet-engaging means can be employed for engaging the first and second sections of sheet material, 52 and 53, and for forwarding them through the pressure zone, one convenient and preferred means is illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. The preferred means illustrated includes a sliding element 62, conveniently a roughly rectangular sheet of nylon or other suitable synthetic resinous material of suitable thickness, which slides vertically in a suitable raceway secured on the inside surface of the front panel lll of the cabinet. In the modification illustrated, the raceway comprises a fiat sheet, or base panel, 63 of suitably rigid material secured, as by rivets 64, on the inside of the front panel 11. Vertically-extending channels are formed along the edges of the base panel 63 with the sheet forming one arm of each channel in such a manner that they lie inwardly of the rigid sheet and provide for the sliding of the element 62 between the bases 65 of the channels, the inner arms 66 of the channels retaining the element 62 in essentially face-to-face sliding contact ywith the base panel 63.

A suitable stop 67 is secured near the upper end of the base panel 63 to limit the upward travel of the sliding element 62. Suitable spring means, e.g. a coil spring 68 with one of its ends secured to a pin 69 located near the anemie upper end of the base panel 63 and with its other end secured to a pin 72 suitably located on the sliding element 62, is provided to return the sliding element 62 automatically, following its sliding travel downward, to its uppermost position with its upper edge abutting the stop 67. It will be apparent that any other suitable means for retaining the element 62 slidably can be employed.

A suitable vertically-extending slot 24, referred to previously in the description of FIGURE l and shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 4, is provided in the front panel 11 of the cabinet and the base panel 63 is provided with a slot 73, conveniently by slotting it from its lower end, so that the panel does not cover the slot 24 in the front panel as illustrated particularly in FIGURE 4.

The sliding element 62 is provided with a downwardly extending tongue 74 of suitable length, flexibility and resiiiency. In the modification illustrated the sliding element 62 and the tongue 74 are formed of suitable material integral with one another and the length of the tongue is increased by means of slits 75 extending along its edges from the lower edge of the sliding element 62, upwardly toward its upper edge for a suitable distance. A sheet-engaging element 78, suitably a pad of soft sponge rubber or of other suitable material, is secured, e.g. by riveting or by means of an adhesive, not shown, to the lower end of the tongue 74 in a position such that it extends inwardly of the cabinet from the end of the tongue. The tongue 74 is also provided with a suitable dispensing lever 23 which projects through the slot 24 in the front panel lll. The dispensing lever 23 can be formed integral with the tongue 74 or it can be formed separately and secured thereto in any suitable manner. In one preferred moditication the sliding element 6'2, the tongue 74 and the dispensing lever 23 are formed by integral molding of a suitable grade of nylon.

The `mode of operation of the forwarding mechanism is illustrated particularly in FIGURES and 6. With the mechanism in its normal nonforwarding position as in FIGURE 5, the tongue 74 of the sliding element 62 extends downward in essentially the same plane as the rest of the sliding element, the dispensing lever 23 extending through the upper end of the slot 24 in the front panel of the cabinet. In this nonforwarding position the sliding element 62 and the attached tongue 74E- are maintained in their extreme upward position with the upper end of the element abutting the stop 67 by the tension of the spring 68. When it is desired to dispense sheet material, the dispensing lever 23 is pressed downward with the finger to the extent of its travel as defined by the length of the slot 24. Because of the offset nature of the lever 23 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue 74 and because of the flexible nature of the tongue, the tongue is iiexed inwardly of the cabinet by the pressure exerted on the lever 23. It is also convenient, although not generally essential, to contour the lower surface 77 of the tongue so that as the lever is forced downwardly the sliding of its lower surface on the lower end of the slot 24 forces the tongue 74 to flex inwardly of the cabinet in a more positive fashion than might otherwise Ibe the case.

Because of the flexing of the tongue 74, the sheet-engaging element 78 is forced into frictional engagement with the section of first sheet material 52 in the pressure zone and presses the assemblage of first and second sections of sheet materials, 52 and 53, respectively, against the pressure plate 45 before the tongue 74- and attached dispensing lever 23 have reached the lower limit of their travel. Because of the continued frictional engagement of the section of first sheet material 52 by the sheetengaging element 78 during its further travel in a downward direction, it forwards the sheet downward through the pressure zone and along the lower guide plate 57 toward the dispensing zone adjacent the lower end of the front panel 11, thus causing the section of first sheet material to protrude through the `dispensing zone out of the cabinet where the end of the section can be grasped with the hand. Because of the tension exerted on the second supply roll 33 of sheet material, as is more particularly illustrated in FIGURE 7, the section of second sheet material is not forwarded through the pressure zone, as explained previously. Upon relieving the pressure on the dispensing lever 23, the spring 68 causes the sliding element 62 and the tongue 74 to be retracted upwardly into their original positions as illustrated in FIGURE 5, the resiliency of the tongue 74 causing it to resume its original co-planar relationship with the sliding element 62. The protruding end of the section of first sheet material can then be withdrawn from the cabinet for a suitable distance and severed by lifting it upwardly and tearing it along the lower edge of the front panel 11.

ri`his procedure can be repeated as often as desired until the tirst supply roll of sheet material is completely exhausted, after which continued operation of the mechanism in the same manner will cause the engaging element 78 to engage and forward the section of second sheet material 53 in the pressure Zone in a manner entirely identical with the engagement and forwarding of the section of first sheet material just described, the section of second sheet material sliding along the surface of the pressure plate 45 and the tension on the second supply yroll 33 being insufficiently great to prevent forwarding of the section of second sheet material by the sheet-engaging element 7 8'. Dispensing of sheet material from the second supply roll can then be continued until the next regular inspection of the apparatus and the installation of a new supply roll in it in the manner described previously.

It is sometimes advantageous or advisable to provide means for maintaining the assemblage of sections of first and second sheet materials, 52 and 53, continuously in light pressure contact with the pressure plate 45 even when sheet material is not being dispensed. Such a means provides for somewhat better control of the sheets at all times and is sometimes of value. One such means comprises a pair of relatively wide and relatively weak leaf springs 76 which are secured to the inner surface of the front panel of the cabinet, as by rivets 85, on either side of the base panel 63. The provision of such a means overcomes any tendency which might exist for the sheetengaging element 78 to disarrange the assemblage of sections of sheet material in the pressure zone during its retraction upward should there be any likelihood of the outermost sheet adhering to the element 73. Generally, the parts are arranged and dimensioned in such a way that relief of the pressure of a finger on the dispensing lever 23 eases the frictional engagement of the sheetengaging element 78 with the section of first or second sheet material, as the case may be, to such an extent that there is little tendency for the section to be drawn upward in the pressure Zone during the retraction of the tongue 74 into its uppermost position. Disarrangement of the assemblage of sheets by stray air currents within the cabinet is also prevented by the springs 76 when the cabinet is mounted in an exposed location.

Although a preferred sheet-engaging and forwarding mechanism comprises that illustrated in FIGURES 4, S and 6 described in the previous paragraphs, other forms of dispensing mechanism can be employed. In one such other form, illustrated in FIGURE 8, a sheet-engaging roll 79 of soft rubber or of other suitable material can be employed which presses the assemblage of sections of first and second sheet materials 52 and 53 lightly and continuously against the pressure plate 45. The contacting roll 79 can be of any suitable length and can be mounted on an axle 82 which rotates in bearings in bearing blocks 83 secured to the inner surface of the front panel 11. A crank 84, or other suitable means, can be provided for rotating the roll 79 to forward sheet material through the pressure zone. When the contacting roll 79 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow of FIGURE 8, the section of iirst sheet material is forwarded downwardly through the pressure and dispensing zones until its lower end can be grasped by the hand and a suitable length of the sheet material then Withdrawn. Suitable ratchet means can be provided, if desired, to prevent rotation of theb handle 84 while the sheet is being withdrawn from the cabinet even though the sheet-engaging roll itself will generally be rotated by the operation. If preferred, the entire desired length of sheet material can be caused to protrude from the cabinet by continuing to turn the contacting roll 79'. When the rst supply roll of sheet material is exhausted, the contacting roll 79 then automatically engages the section of second sheet material 53 and operation of the apparatus in the manner `described causes sheet material to be dispensed from the second supply roll. With this modification there is generally little need or necessity for providing means, other than the roll itself, such as the leaf springs 76 of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, for maintaining the assemblage of sheets in light pressure ccntact with the pressure plate 45', especially when the engaging roll 79 is long enough to extend across a considerable proportion of the width of the sections of sheet material. The roll 79 can, if desired, be mounted entirely inside the cabinet.

Referring briefly again to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that by pivoting the top panel 14 of the cabinet upward on the hinges l5, the upper bracket 34 is swung clear of the side panels 12 of the cabinet and that, with the bracket in the position illustrated, it is easy to disengage the shaft 36 from the bracket merely by sliding the axial pins 38 upwardly through the slots 39. A new supply roll of sheet material mounted on the shaft 36 can then be installed in the bracket 34 merely by sliding the axial pins downwardly in the slots 39. Also, it will be noted that when the top panel is pivoted upwardly the front flange 22 disengages the front panel 1l of the cabinet and the front panel can then be pivoted downwardly on the pivot pins 16 so as to extend -essentially parallel With the bottom panel 13 of the cabinet. The upper guide plate 26 can then be grasped through the open front of the cabinet and pulled forward to cause the assem-V blage of pressure plate 45, lower bracket 42 and the supply roll 33 supported on the bracket to pivot on the pins 55 and swing forwardly out of the cabinet. With the lower bracket in the position illustrated, the arms 42 can be sprung to spread them apart sufficiently without striking the side panels 12 of the cabinet to permit the removal of a supply roll 33 from its mounting in the lower bracket and, similarly, to permit the mounting of a new supply roll in the bracket.

With supply rolls mounted in both the upper and lower brackets, it is merely necessary, to prepare the apparatus for dispensing, to pivot the pressure plate 45 and associated parts in the reverse direction about the pins 55 until the back of the plate bears against the stops 58, to then close the front of the cabinet by pivoting the front panel 11 about the pivot pins 16 and to then close the cover so that the front ange 22 engages and retains the front panel in its closed position. Care should, of course, be taken prior to the closing of the cabinet to unroll sucient sheet material from both the iirst and second supply rolls 32 and 33, to insure that in the closed cabinet sections of each sheet material will extend into the pressure zone suiciently far to be engaged by the sheetengaging means 78 in the manner described previously.

We claim:

l. In apparatus for dispensing sheet material, the cornbination including: means for mounting a plurality of supply rolls of sheet material rotatably in a position to provide for travel of sections of sheet material unrolled from each roll in superposed at relationship With one another through a pressure zone to a dispensing zone, the pressure zone being free of elements separating the sections f sheet material therein from one another; a

rigid pressure plate located parallel with and closely adjacent to the assemblage of superposed sections of sheet material in the pressure zone; a sheet-engaging element adapted to engage frictionally the section of sheet material in the pressure zone farthest removed from the pressure plate, to press the assemblage of sections of sheet material in contact with one another against the pressure plate and to forward the engaged section in the direction of the dispensing zone; and means to maintain the tension required to unroll the section of sheet material adjacent to the engaged section from its supply roll greater than that required to unroll the enga-ged section of sheet material from its supply roll whereby the section of sheet material adjacent to the engaged section is caused to remain essentially stationary in the pressure zone during the forwarding of the engaged section.

2. In apparatus for dispensing sheet material, the combination including: means for mounting a plurality of supply rolls of sheet material rotatably in positions to provide for sections of sheet material unrolled from the rolls and conducted to a dispensing zone to extend as an assemblage of sections of sheet material in superposed flat contacting relationship with one another in a pressure zone; a rigid pressure plate located parallel with and closely adjacent to the assemblage of superposed sections of sheet material in the pressure zone; a sheet-engaging element adapted to engage frictionally the section of sheet material in the pressure zone farthest removed from the pressure plate, to press the assemblage of sections of sheet material in contact with one another against the pressure plate and to forward the engaged section of sheet material toward the dispensing zone; and tensioning means to maintain the tension required to unroll the section of sheet material adjacent to the engaged section in the pressure zone from its supply roll greater than the tension required to unroll the engaged section of sheet material from its supply roll by an amount sufficient to cause the engaged section to slide over the surface of the adjacent section and the adjacent section to remain essentially stationary in the pressure zone during the forwarding of the engaged section, but insucient to pre-` vent the forwarding of the adjacent section When the supply roll for the engaged section has become exhausted and the adjacent section is then engaged by the sheetengaging means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including -a guide plate for guiding at least one of the unrolled sections of sheet material in its travel from its supply roll to the pressure zone whereby a travel path free of travel-resisting elements is assured for the section and snagging and tearing of the section during its travel is avoided.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a guide plate for guiding the engaged and forwarded section of sheet material in its travel from the pressure zone to the dispensing zone.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tensioning means for maintaining the tension required to unroll the section of sheet material adjacent to the engaged section includes a spring adapted to bear slidably on the end of the supply roll for the adjacent section of sheet material.

6. In apparatus for dispensing sheet material, the combination including: a suitable cabinet having front, side, top and bottom panels, the bottom panel extending forwardly of the cabinet for a distance sufficiently less than the side panels to leave an elongated opening across the front of the bottom of the cabinet as a dispensing zone through which sheet material can be withdrawn from the interior of the cabinet; a pressure plate extending between the side walls of the cabinet essentially parallel with the front panel and located generally forwardly and downwardly of the center of the cabinet; means to mount removably and retain rotatably a iirst roll of sheet material in the cabinet to provide for travel of a first section of sheet material unrolled from the iirst supply roll to the dispensing Zone through a pressure zone located immediately forward of the front surface of the pressure plate; means to mount removably and retain rotatably a second supply roll of sheet material in the cabinet to provide for travel of a second section of sheet material unrolled from the second supply roll to the dispensing zone through the pressure zone between, and in flat faceto-face contact with, the pressure plate and the rst section of sheet material; a sheet-engaging element associated with the front pa-nel of the cabinet operable to engage frictionally the first section of sheet material in the pressure zone, to press the assemblage of first and second sections of sheet material in the zone in contact with one another against the pressure plate and to forward the first section of sheet material in the direction of the dispensing zone; and a suitable tensioning element adapted to maintain the tension required to unroll sheet material from the second supply roll greater by a predetermined amount than that required to unroll sheet material from the first supply roll whereby the forwarded first section of sheet material is caused to slide over the surface of the second section and the second section is caused to remain essentially stationary in the pressure zone until sheet material from the first supply roll has been dispensed entirely and whereby continued operation of the sheet-engaging element causes it to engage and forward the second section of sheet material.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tensoning element for maintaining the tension required to unroll sheet material from the second supply roll is a suitable spring secured to the inner surface of a wall of the cabinet which bears lslidably in pressure. relationship on the second supply roll.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sheetengaging element is a roll of soft resilient material mounted rotatably on the front panel of the cabinet which engages frictionally the first section of sheet material in the pressure zone and, in response to its rotation, forwards the first section in the direction of the dispensing zone.

9. In apparatus for dispensing sheet material, the cornbination including: a cabinet having side, back and bottom panels secured to one another, the bottom panel extending forwardly of the cabinet for a distance sufficiently less than the side panels to leave an elongated opening across the front of the bottom of the cabinet as a dispensing zone through which sheet material can be withdrawn from the interior of the cabinet; a front panel for the cabinet having lateral flanges `adapted to overlap the forward edges of the side panels, the lateral anges being secured rotatably near their lower ends to the side panels whereby the front panel can be caused to rotate about the securing means and to extend essentially parallel to the bottom panel of the cabinet to provide access to the interior of the cabinet; a top panel for the cabinet hinged along its rearward edge whereby the top panel can be rotated and caused to extend in a direction essentially parallel with the back panel of the cabinet to provide further access to the interior of the cabinet, the top panel having a flange along its forward edge adapted to overlap the outside of the vupper end of the front panel and retain it in closed position when the top panel is closed; a pressure plate located generally forwardly and downwardly of the center of the cabinet extending generally vertically between the side panels and secured rotatably adjacent to its lower edge to the side panels whereby, with the front panel open, the pressure plate can be caused to rotate about its securing means and to protrude forwardly of the side panels; first bracket means .associated with the top panel for retaining a first supply roll of sheet material rotatably within the cabinet; second bracket means associated with the pressure plate for retaining a second supply roll of sheet material rotatably within the cabinet, the parts being located to provide for the extension of first and second sections of sheet material unrolled from the first and second supply rolls, respectively, in flat face-toface contacting relationship through a pressure zone immediately forward of the pressure plate with the first section of sheet material being farthest removed from the pressure plate, and for the travel of a section of sheet material forwarded through the pressure Zone to the dispensing zone; sheet-engaging means associated with the front panel of the cabient operable from outside the cabinet to engage frictionally the first section of sheet material in the pressure zone, to press the assemblage of first and second sections of sheet material in the pressure zone in contact with one another against the pressure plate and to forward the first section of sheet material through the pressure Zone and to cause it to protrude from the cabinet through the dispensing zone; and tensioning means secured internally of the cabinet whereby the tension required to unroll the second section of sheet material from its supply roll is maintained greater than the tension required to unroll the first section of sheet material from its supply roll by an amount sufficient to cause the first section to slide over the second section and the second section to remain essentially stationary in the pressure zone during the forwarding of the first section, but insufiicient to prevent the forwarding of the second section of sheet material when the supply roll for the first section has become exhausted and the sheet-engaging means then engages the second section of sheet material directly.

Roehner Nov. 19, 1946 Dobkin Mar. 20, 1956 

